A Hamburger Today

First Look: Cocktails at Raven & Rose in Portland, OR

Posted by Greg Harned, Jan 1, 2013

[Photographs: Katie Burnett]

Raven & Rose has opened inside the Ladd Carriage House, a 130-year-old historic Portland landmark. The transformation honors both the building's historical architecture and new environmental standards (the building is LEED gold-certified). The chimney from the former building had fallen into disrepair, so the chimney was carefully dismantled, and the bricks were saved and cleaned and will take on a new life as the restaurant's brick oven. Part of the floor is made from reclaimed Kentucky horse fences, and many of the tables are made from reclaimed shipping pallets. The building changed hands a few times over the years, and the entire building was moved in 2007 during a remodel of an adjacent building. When it was moved back, it was a placed few feet further back from the road, leaving ample space around the building that will be used as outdoor seating come summer.

The first floor of the gastropub features a 70 seat dining area and 10 person bar—the kitchen is fully exposed. The second floor, a former hayloft, has been transformed into a grand room, with a billiards table, library seating area, tables with inlaid backgammon and chess boards, and hidden plasma screen for watching the game or slideshows of historical Portland photographs.

As for the drinks, "We will do everything a bar in the 1880's would do," says bar manager Dave Shenaut, formerly of Riffle and Beaker & Flask. "Whether that's making our own brandied cherries to creating our own bitters." The cocktail menu will feature a monthly rotating selection of 7 cocktails from a list of 180 classic cocktails.

They will also feature a few original drinks that will change based on the season, or what's coming out of the kitchen. "David Padberg [formerly of Park Kitchen] is an incredible chef, and it's an honor to get to collaborate." says Shenaut. Their first collaboration, a warm-spice cocktail called Dave's Addition, incorporates Padberg's homemade green walnut liqueur with Knob Creek Rye whiskey, Luxardo Maraschino, and rich Carpano Antica. Take a peek at more of the cocktails at Raven & Rose in the slideshow above.

Raven & Rose

About the Author: Greg Harned lives in Portland, OR, where he enjoys cocktails, drinking and general mischief-making in candlelit speakeasies, swanky cocktail lounges and dingy dive bars. He manages Portland Craft Cocktails where he writes about his various exploits and also dabbles in the spirits trade. You can follow him on Twitter @craftcocktails.